Shantiniketan

Shantiniketan Santiniketan
Town
Website	visva-bharati.ac.in/

Santiniketan (Bangla: শান্তিনিকেতন Shantiniketôn) is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town (Visva-Bharati University) that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Santiniketan is also a tourist attraction because Rabindranath wrote many of his literary classics here, and his house is a place of historical importance.

History

Santiniketan was previously called Bhubandanga (named after Bhuban Dakat, a local dacoit), and owned by the Tagore family. Rabindranath's father, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, found it very peaceful and renamed it Santiniketan, which means abode (niketan) of peace (shanti). It was here that Rabindranath Tagore started Patha Bhavana, the school of his ideals, whose central premise was that learning in a natural environment would be more enjoyable and fruitful. After he received the Nobel Prize(1913), the school was expanded into a university in 1921, but in 1951, it became one of the central universities of India. Many world famous teachers have become associated with it, including C.F. Andrews and Alex Aronson. Gayatri Devi, Indira Gandhi, Satyajit Ray, Abdul Ghani Khan and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen are among its more illustrious students,

Rabindranath Tagore with Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi at Santiniketan in 1940

Kala Bhavana, the art college of Santiniketan, is still considered one of the best art colleges in the world. Other institutions here include Vidya Bhavana; the Institute of Humanities, Shiksha Bhavana; the Institute of Science, Sangit Bhavana; Institute of Dance, Drama and Music, Vinaya Bhavana; Institute of Education, Rabindra Bhavana, Institute of Tagore Studies and Research, Palli-Samgathana Vibhaga; Institute of Rural Reconstruction, and Palli Shiksha Bhavana; Institute of Agricultural Sciences. There are also other centres, affiliated to major institutions such as Nippon Bhavana, the Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration, Rural Extension Centre, Silpa Sadana; Centre for Rural Craft, Technology and Design, Palli-Charcha Kendra; Centre for Social Studies and Rural Development, Centre for Biotechnology, Centre for Mathematics Education, Centre for Environmental Studies, Computer Centre and Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration. As well as Patha-Bhavana, there are two schools for kindergarten level education; Mrinalini Ananda Pathsala, Santosh Pathsala; a school for primary and secondary education known as Shiksha Satra, and a school of higher secondary education known as Uttar-Shiksha Sadana.

Santiniketan is also home to Amartya Sen, the 1998 Nobel Prize winner in Economics.

Geography

Santiniketan is located at 23.68°N 87.68°E / 23.68; 87.68. It has an average elevation of 56 metres (187 feet).

Climate

Temperature (deg C) : Summer- Max.39.4, Min.34.3; Winter- Max.15.7, Min.12.1.

Rainfall : 125 cms ( June to September ). Heavy in JulyAugust.

The weather in Santiniketan is usually a pleasant one although you will come across the normal weather changes during summer, winter and Monsoon. Nonetheless Spring has its own charm in Santiniketan not only because of its natural beauty blooming to its fullest amidst the lush greenery but also due to the famous Vasanta Utsav held to mark the festival of Holi with the onset of Spring.

Shantiniketan can be visited at any time of the year. The climate is moderately warm, like Kolkata, with summer temperatures at around 34-38°C and winter at 12-15°C. July and August see heavy rainfall.

Major events

Numerous social and cultural events taking place through out the year, have become part and parcel of Santiniketan.These include - Basanta Utsav, Barsha Mangal, Sharodutsav, Nandan Mela, Poush Mela, Magh Mela, Rabindra Jayanti to name a few. Of these, the Poush Mela deserves special mention, this being a major tourist attraction.It is a 3-day fair (Bengali, mela means a fair ),starting on the seventh day of the Bengali month Poush(usually, last week of December).It fetches not just tourists, but also artisans, folk singers, dancers, and the traditional Baul from the neighbourhood.

Recent developments

Santiniketan has changed considerably since the days of Tagore. Although Visva-Bharati University still plays an active role, Santiniketan has become a haven for India's nouveau riche: large houses have been built on what used to be barren khoai (desert) and condominiums are becoming commonplace. But travel beyond the outskirts of the ever-expanding "small town" and one is soon back in village India.

The idyllic existence envisioned by Tagore in Santiniketan is rapidly disappearing, but it still maintains a "college town" feel, with many large shade-covered open spaces on campus where students can congregate. The student population remains international in origin, as does the faculty, and some of the best thinkers and intellectuals in India remember their college life in Santiniketan with fondness.

Attractions

Prayer Hall in Santiniketan

Prayer Hall

Upasana Griha : A prayer hall, made of several colored Belgium glasses with marble steps on all the four sides by the poet's father in 1863. During evening service, candle is lit around the prayer hall, and it wears a magnificent look in flickering light. Prayers are held on Wednesday.

Dehali

Dehali : Rabindranath used to live with his wife Mrinali Devi in this two storied building.

China Bhavana

China Bhavana : A centre for Chinese studies. Natir Puja, a dance drama of Tagore is painted on its wall under the guidance of Nandalal Bose, pioneering Indian artist.

Black House

Black House : A mud building known for its relief works done by stalwarts like Ram Kinkar and Prabhas Sen. Usually the final year student of Visva Bharati stay here.

Santiniketan Griha

Santiniketan Griha: The oldest building of Santiniketan.

Kala Bhavan

Kala Bhavan : The College of Fine Arts & Crafts has a museum exhibiting sculptures, frescoes & murals and a library of art books.

Uttarayan Complex

Uttarayan Complex : The poet lived and worked in the Northern Complex consisting of several buildings as : Udayana, Konarka, Shyamali, Punascha and Udichi. The Bichitra ( or, Rabindra Bhavan ) designed by the poet's son Rathindranath Tagore.

Bichitra

Bichitra : Also called Rabindra Bhavan, a Research Centre and Museum where the poet's personal belongings, paintings & various editions of his works are exhibited.

Sangeet Bhavan

Sangeet Bhavan : College of Dance and Music. The University is replete with works on Art, Music and the Humanities.

Chhatimtala

Chhatimtala : Here Maharshi Devendranath, the father of Rabindranath Tagore, used to meditate. Prayers are held usually at Convocation time. Successful graduates of the Vishwa Bharati University are presented a branch of five leaves each from the Saptaparni trees which abound in the area.

Kankalitala

Kankalitala: On the bank of the river Kopai is Knankalitala, one of the sacred Satipithas. A temple there.

Gardens and Parks at Shantiniketan

Deer Park : Near Sriniketan, 3 km from Shantiniketan. Originally, the area was a fast eroding `Khowai'. It is now a large wooded area with herds of deer and makes a natural bird sanctuary.

Shantiniketan Shopping

Grameen (Bolpur), Sarvodaya Ashram (Bolpur), (Handicrafts & handlooms) Vishwa Bharati Shilpa Sadan (Shantiniketan), Shantiniketan Cooperative Stores (Shantiniketan).

Famous To Eat at Shantiniketan

The food here is Bengali, one must try the fish curry, brinjal curry because the bengalis here are famous for their fish curry.

Shantiniketan Distance(s)

• Fullora (40 km)
• Nalhati (104 km)
• Kankalitala (7 km)
• Bakreshwar (58 km)
• Massanjore (78 km)
• Kendubilwa (42 km)
• Nanoor (23 km)
• Tarapith (80 km)

See also

• Visva-Bharati University
• Patha Bhavana
• Debendranath Tagore
• Rabindranath Tagore
• Mukul Dey
• Amartya Sen
• Poush Mela
• Santidev Ghosh
• Gayatri Devi

External links

• Santiniketan Photographs
• Art and Santiniketan
• Visva-Bharati University: Official website
• West Bengal Government Official Santiniketan site
• Mukul Dey Archives at Santiniketan
• Official Santiniketan website
• Shantiniketan
• Pictures of Shantiniketan
• Template:Wikitravel